Fire HD 8 Tablet With Alexa

Looking for a Tablet on a Budget? The Fire HD 8 Is Here

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As mobile-first content continues to grow, so too does the need for a portable mobile device. Yes, you’ve got your smartphone, but you can only read and binge-watch Netflix on a 5 x 2.5-inch screen for so long. That’s where the tablet comes in. While many might argue that the iPad reigns supreme in this category of gadgets. An iPad also tends to come with a fairly steep price tag — the current Mini alone starts at $529.

If you’re looking for an affordable alternative to the iPad, you might consider checking out the Fire HD 8. Sure, it may not have some of the bells and whistles of pricier tablet-style gadgets, but it has a lot of cool features of its own. Including, but not limited to, Alexa voice command capabilities.

With built-in cameras and speakers, the Fire tablet is built to serve as a media player, e-reader and web browser. With a four-star rating on Amazon, it seems consumers are generally pleased with their Amazon Fire purchases. But to see if it lives up to the hype, we decided to put it to the test.

Amazon Fire HD 8

Amazon

The Review

Originally released as the Kindle Fire back in 2011, the Amazon Fire tablet has received numerous upgrades and tweaks over the years. While this latest edition, the Fire HD 8, is not drastically different from its predecessor — the HD 7 — there are improvements in the front-facing camera.

The Fire HD 8 tablet is designed with entertainment at top of mind. You can listen to audio via the tablet’s speakers (the volume is good even with the tablet resting on your lap), insert headphones into the jack or listen via a Bluetooth connection.

Whether reading, watching, listening or playing games, the screen has a good resolution and the tablet speed is strong enough to allow the content to flow without lags.

When it comes to accessing content, the Fire HD 8 makes it incredibly easy and intuitive to tap into Amazon’s media library. Amazon TV shows, movies and books are suggested during the set-up process, and the home screen shows you where you left off on your Amazon book or movie. In addition, you can access and download apps for most major streaming services, including Netflix and HBO Now. Google Play and YouTube, however, can not be accessed on the Fire. If you're a big reader, you should take advantage of Amazon's Kindle Unlimited subscription: $9.99/month for unlimited e-books.

The Fire HD 8 is approximately 8 x 5 inches and weighs in at about 16.7 ounces. Like the Fire 7 tablet, this model is made from super durable plastic and is available in red, blue, black and yellow. It is available with 16GB of storage for $79.99 and 32GB for $109.99 — the 32GB is recommended if you tend to download a lot of Netflix shows. For $15 you can turn off all ads. The battery is said to last for up to 10 hours. We found it held up for almost five hours of constant web video streaming.

What Stood Out: Amazon-Alexa Connection

The Amazon hands-free Show Mode sets this tablet apart from its competitors. With Show Mode, the Fire can double as an Echo Show of sorts, thanks to its Alexa-compatibility, built-in microphone, speakers and cameras.

Through voice commands, you can call up apps, play videos and make speakerphone calls to the U.S. and Canada. The tablet accepts voice commands from up to 30-feet away, but due to the speaker range, you will want to stay within a 10-foot radius to ensure you hear the response.

While the camera is not up to par with the latest smartphone cameras when it comes to snapping pics, it is perfectly adequate for video chat.

The Verdict: Great for Its Price

The Fire HD 8 is a great value for its price point. It functions smoothly and while it has a limited app pool, it is a great fit for those seeking a simple tablet for web browsing, reading and video streaming. In addition, thanks to its durable structure, parental settings and wide array of kid-friendly content, the Fire HD 8 is well suited for families with young children. Note: a kid-specific Fire HD 8 is also available on Amazon.

For a more in-depth review of the Fire HD 8 — including a full list of pros, cons, and specs — head over to PCMag.